January '11 - Fantasy Reading Poll

[Scheherazade]

Please nominate the "fantasy" novel you would like to read in January in this thread.

Please remember that:

- Only those members with 50+ posts can nominate.

- One nomination per member.

- Only the first 10 nominations will be included in the poll.


The Book Club readings are for those who would like to read and discuss books together with other members.

If you are not able to take part or unwilling to (re)read your own nominations, please refrain from nominating book.


Fantasy novels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Fantasy_novels)

[katelbach]

Boy in Darkness by Mervyn Peake. However, as this is only a novella of 114 pages it may not be deemed eligible for entry to the poll! If not, please add A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin instead. :)

[OrphanPip]

I've always liked the Earthsea novels.

I'm going to nominate The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett.

[TheFifthElement]

Grendel by John Gardner. I reckon I'll be ready to re-read that one come January.

[Dark Muse]

The Once and Future King by T.H.White

[bouquin]

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami.





_________________
Currently reading: The Corrections (Jonathan Franzen)

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. Boy in Darkness by Mervyn Peake

2. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

3. Grendel by John Gardner

4. The Once and Future King by T.H.White

5. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami


I would like to nominate Stardust by Neil Gaiman.

[stlukesguild]

I'll throw Italo Calvino's Cosmicomics into the fray.

[Wilde woman]

Wow, I'm excited. Already lots of good options to pick from.

[Paulclem]

I'd like to nominate China Mieville's The City and the City.

The premise looks really interesting - especially given his Socialist leanings which may be a pointer to the relationsips of the "2" cities in the book - not that I'm trying to unfairly affect your choice by selling it to you. Moi?

I have just read the synopsis, and if it's anything like Perdido Street Station which I read last year, then there will an abundance of new and wierd ideas in it. All through Perdido Street Station I was trying to place references to other books. I can't remember succeeding, but was surprised by the originality of the ideas. Moi? Nay...

Anyway here's the link to the Wikipedia entry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_City_%26_the_City

[OrphanPip]

Paul accidentally posted his nomination in the wrong thread.

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showpost.php?p=974173&postcount=58

[Paulclem]

Sorry. I think Scher's sorting it for me.:D

Thanks Orphan.

[OrphanPip]

Ha, I didn't want it to go unnoticed, I really like China Mieville.

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. Boy in Darkness by Mervyn Peake

2. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

3. Grendel by John Gardner

4. The Once and Future King by T.H.White

5. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

6. Stardust by Neil Gaiman

7. Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino

8. The City and the City by China Mieville

[Paulclem]

Thanks Scher

[Nikhar]

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. Boy in Darkness by Mervyn Peake

2. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

3. Grendel by John Gardner

4. The Once and Future King by T.H.White

5. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

6. Stardust by Neil Gaiman

7. Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino

8. The City and the City by China Mieville

9. Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie

Last nomination's up for grabs!

[katelbach]

Reckon a Pratchett/Murakami two-horse-race is nailed on here!

[stlukesguild]

Reckon a Pratchett/Murakami two-horse-race is nailed on here!

That depends upon who votes, their reading experiences, their tastes, and what they are interested in reading at the moment. Based solely on the aesthetic merits of the literature at hand, Calvino would be a shoo-in.

[OrphanPip]

Haha, I've read pretty much every nomination already. I nominated Pratchett because the book is a short light read.

I'm leaning more towards Mieville, since that book was the 2009 Hugo recipient.

[Drkshadow03]

Haha, I've read pretty much every nomination already. I nominated Pratchett because the book is a short light read.

I'm leaning more towards Mieville, since that book was the 2009 Hugo recipient.

Mieville is good stuff!

[OrphanPip]

Mieville is good stuff!

Ya, his output has really been something, considering he's a relatively young author.

I usually read the Hugo winner every year anyway, so it would be nice to have a group to read this book with.

[Paulclem]

Ya, his output has really been something, considering he's a relatively young author.

I usually read the Hugo winner every year anyway, so it would be nice to have a group to read this book with.

I've only read Perdido St Station, but I was impressed. I didn't know what to expect all the way through. It was interesting stuff.

[David Lurie]

I'd like to nominate Winter's tale by Mark Helprin

[Rores28]

What's the deal with cosmicomics? I've heard that its difficult to get the complete collection.

http://www.amazon.com/Cosmicomics-Italo-Calvino/dp/0156226006/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291303205&sr=8-1-spell

Is that all of them?

[OrphanPip]

Of the nominees, Calvino and Mieville are the ones I'd most like to read. I've read Calvino before and not been disappointed. Though I think Mieville is the more representative "genre" novelist.

Edit: I like Murakami too, but I've read Kafka on the Shore only last year.

[Janine]

I nominate "She" by H. Rider Haggard. I read the novel years ago and loved it.

[Scheherazade]

I nominate "She" by H. Rider Haggard. I read the novel years ago and loved it.We have already got the 10 nominations needed, I am afraid, Janine.

Maybe next time :)

[Scheherazade]

Once and Future King is one of the most boring books I have ever read.

[Paulclem]

I liked the Once and Future King. I read it as a kid and then found Disney had ripped it off in The Sword in the Stone. (I did like that too though).

I've read the Colur of Magic, which is amusing, though not as funny as it's billed. Pratchett has cornered the Fantasy spoof market, yet I get the feeling that he missed writing in a more serious vein - fantasy thrillers. The plot and ideas are there - which make books like Thud and Feet of Clay quite good, but there is too much stereotyping for it to be fully successful as comedy in my view.

I've heard of Haroun and the Sea of Stories - Rushdie is a great writer, and I wouldn't mind reading anything by him. Apart from Mieville, I'm not familiar with the others. It should be good whatever the outcome.

[Dark Muse]

Haha I loved the Sword in the Stone cartoon when I was a kid. I use to watch every year this time of year.

[Paulclem]

Yes. I was really into the Arthurian legends when I was a mere kiddie.

[Dark Muse]

Oh I am still a fanatic about Arthurian legend. As you can tell being that Once and Future King was my nomination *grins*

[OrphanPip]

I'm rooting hard for City and the City, I asked my mum to buy it for me for Chirstmas, haha.

If Kafka wins I'll be ok with that, I've read it recently so I could participate in the discussion.

[Janine]

Oh that's ok Scher. Maybe some other time we can read it.

[Scheherazade]

I liked the Once and Future King. I read it as a kid and then found Disney had ripped it off in The Sword in the Stone. (I did like that too though).I read it only 3-4 years ago and I bored to tears. Fantasy is not genre I am particularly keen on anyway but this book really did nothing for me.
If Kafka wins I'll be ok with that, I've read it recently so I could participate in the discussion.I won't mind reading that one either... I think.
Oh that's ok Scher. Maybe some other time we can read it.That'd be great but voting rarely goes the way I wish it to! :D

[qimissung]

The Once and Future King is one of my favorite books, although I haven't reread it in years.

[julian94]

Argh annoying how I can't vote -__-. Wanted to vote for Kafka on the shore xP. Easily one of the greatest novels of the 21st century.

[Paulclem]

I'm going to order The City and The City from Amazon as I couldn't find it today. I'm looking forward to it.

[observatory8]

Greetings All! I am new to the forum and excited about the opportunity to share the experience of discovering books with a community. I'm a big fan of fantasy/science fiction literature and would have to give a big negative to the city and the city. It seemed pretty formulaic and was a weak attempt at a non-futuristic philip dick novel. Just my opinon though.
My vote, if i had one, would go for kafka on the beach, have not had a chance to read that one yet.

[Paulclem]

Greetings All! I am new to the forum and excited about the opportunity to share the experience of discovering books with a community. I'm a big fan of fantasy/science fiction literature and would have to give a big negative to the city and the city. It seemed pretty formulaic and was a weak attempt at a non-futuristic philip dick novel. Just my opinon though.
My vote, if i had one, would go for kafka on the beach, have not had a chance to read that one yet.

Welcome Observatory8

Perhaps you could come in with your observations as we read it through. (No pun intended).

My copy is winging its way here as we...type...
.

[OrphanPip]

Welcome Observatory8

Perhaps you could come in with your observations as we read it through. (No pun intended).

My copy is winging its way here as we...type...
.

I went to a bookstore to get it, they said they had it in stock, but of course they didn't. So, I'm going to get 15% off the book when the book store actually does get a copy.

[Paulclem]

I went to a bookstore to get it, they said they had it in stock, but of course they didn't. So, I'm going to get 15% off the book when the book store actually does get a copy.

Excellent.

I tried our Waterstones Bookstore and the two libraries I frequent, but I've ordered it quite cheaply from Amazon. I'm tempted to buy quite a few books at the moment as they are having a sale.

[OrphanPip]

Excellent.

I tried our Waterstones Bookstore and the two libraries I frequent, but I've ordered it quite cheaply from Amazon. I'm tempted to buy quite a few books at the moment as they are having a sale.

Ya, there are a lot of decent Boxing Day sales around this time.

[Satan]

Cosmicomics arrived last week. I would have voted for it, but I want to finish Winter's Tale which I started reading this summer.

[OrphanPip]

OK the store is taking too long so I went and ordered the book online, should get it next week. I might be late joining in, but I'll definitely be reading this one.

[gifser]

I like this book,